Frequently Asked Questions

ChatShield only requests access to four specific AI chat websites: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot. This allows the extension to scan the text you type before you send it.

We cannot access any other websites, your browsing history, or any data outside these chat interfaces. You can verify this in Chrome by visiting chrome://extensions and clicking "Details" on ChatShield to see exactly which sites we have access to.

No, never. ChatShield processes everything 100% locally in your browser. Your prompts, detected data, and settings never leave your device.

We have no servers that receive user data. You can verify this yourself by opening Chrome DevTools (F12), going to the Network tab, and watching for any outgoing requests while using the extension. You will see none.

No. ChatShield cannot access your saved passwords, cookies, or autofill data. We only have permission to read text that you type into AI chat interfaces.

We have no access to:

• Password managers or saved passwords
• Browser cookies or session data
• Form autofill information
• Browser history or bookmarks

We encourage you to verify our claims. Here is how:

• Check permissions: Go to chrome://extensions, find ChatShield, and click "Details" to see exactly what permissions we have.
• Monitor network traffic: Open Chrome DevTools (F12) on any page and watch the Network tab. ChatShield makes zero external requests.
• Review the extension: The Chrome Web Store shows our permission requests and reviews from other users.
• Read our Privacy Policy: Our privacy policy explains exactly how we handle (or rather, do not handle) your data.

The only data stored is your settings and detection statistics, and this is stored locally in your browser using Chrome's built-in storage API.

What we store locally:

• Your preferences (sensitivity level, detection types)
• Detection count statistics (how many items detected today/total)
• License information (for Pro users)

What we never store:

• Your actual prompts or messages
• The sensitive data that was detected
• Any content from your conversations

You can clear all stored data anytime by removing the extension or using Chrome's "Clear browsing data" feature.

ChatShield detects a wide range of sensitive information:

• Personal Information: Email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security Numbers, physical addresses
• Financial Data: Credit card numbers, bank account patterns
• API Keys & Secrets: AWS keys, OpenAI tokens, Stripe keys, GitHub tokens, Google API keys, and many more
• Technical Secrets: Private keys, JWT tokens, database connection strings, passwords in config files
• Network Information: IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6)
• Custom Patterns: Define your own regex patterns (Pro plan)

Free users get access to common PII types and 3 API key patterns. Pro users get all detection types plus custom patterns.

ChatShield uses pattern matching (regular expressions) to scan text as you type. Here is the process:

1. When you type in an AI chatbot, ChatShield scans the input field in real-time
2. Our pattern library checks for known sensitive data formats
3. If a match is found, the text is highlighted and a warning appears
4. You can choose to redact the data, ignore the warning, or add it to your allowlist

All scanning happens instantly in your browser. There is no AI or cloud processing involved, which means it works offline and keeps your data completely private.

When ChatShield detects sensitive data, you will see:

• Visual highlight: The detected text is underlined with a wavy red line
• Warning popup: A small tooltip appears near the text explaining what was detected
• Quick actions: Buttons to redact, ignore, or allowlist the item

You have full control. ChatShield will never automatically modify or block your text. You decide what to do with each detection.

Redaction options:

• Free: Replace with [REDACTED] or type-specific placeholders like [EMAIL]
• Pro: Smart fake data substitution (replace real email with a fake one that looks realistic)

Yes. Since all processing happens locally in your browser, ChatShield works even without an internet connection.

Of course, you will need internet access to actually use AI chatbots, but ChatShield's detection engine requires no network connectivity. This is another way you can verify that we never send your data anywhere.

ChatShield currently supports:

• ChatGPT (chat.openai.com and chatgpt.com)
• Claude (claude.ai)
• Google Gemini (gemini.google.com)
• GitHub Copilot Chat

We are actively working on adding support for more platforms. Have a suggestion? Let us know.

Currently, ChatShield is available for:

• Google Chrome (primary support)
• Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) should work by installing from the Chrome Web Store

Firefox and Safari versions are on our roadmap. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when they become available.

No. ChatShield is designed to be lightweight and efficient.

• The extension only activates on supported AI chat sites
• Pattern matching is highly optimized and runs in milliseconds
• No background processes or constant monitoring
• Minimal memory footprint (typically under 5MB)

On all other websites, ChatShield is completely dormant and uses zero resources.

The free version includes everything you need for basic protection:

• Detection for emails, phone numbers, SSNs, and credit cards
• 3 common API key types (AWS, OpenAI, GitHub)
• Basic [REDACTED] masking
• 24-hour detection history
• Works on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini

No account required. Just install and start using it immediately.

Pro ($6/month or $49/year) unlocks advanced features:

• Smart fake data substitution: Replace real data with realistic fake data instead of generic placeholders
• All API key types: 20+ key patterns including Stripe, Twilio, SendGrid, and more
• Custom regex patterns: Define your own detection rules
• Allowlist/whitelist: Mark specific values as safe to ignore
• Unlimited history: Full detection log with export
• Export reports: CSV/JSON export for compliance
• Priority support: Direct email support with faster response

Yes, absolutely. There are no contracts or commitments.

• Cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings
• Your Pro features remain active until the end of your billing period
• After cancellation, you keep the free version with no interruption
• We do not charge cancellation fees

Yes. Pro includes a 7-day free trial. No credit card required to start.

During the trial, you get access to all Pro features. If you decide it is not for you, simply do not upgrade and you will continue with the free version.

Team plans are $12/user/month (minimum 3 seats, billed annually) and include:

• Everything in Pro
• Admin dashboard for team management
• Usage analytics across your team
• Centralized policy configuration
• Team member management
• SSO/SAML integration (coming soon)

Interested in a Team plan? Contact us for a demo.

If ChatShield is not detecting sensitive data, try these steps:

1. Check if the extension is enabled: Click the ChatShield icon in your toolbar. If it is grayed out, click to enable it.
2. Verify you are on a supported site: ChatShield only works on ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot.
3. Refresh the page: Sometimes a page refresh is needed after installing or updating the extension.
4. Check your sensitivity settings: Open the popup and make sure detection is not set to "Off".
5. Try a test pattern: Type a clearly formatted email like test@example.com to verify detection is working.

Still having issues? Contact support with details about your browser version and the site you are using.

If text is being highlighted but the popup is not appearing:

• Check for popup blockers: Some ad blockers or privacy extensions can interfere with in-page popups. Try disabling them temporarily on the AI chat site.
• Scroll into view: The popup appears near the detected text. If you have scrolled away, it may be off-screen.
• Check zoom level: Extreme zoom levels can sometimes cause display issues. Try resetting to 100% zoom.
• Update the extension: Make sure you have the latest version from the Chrome Web Store.

We appreciate bug reports. To help us fix issues quickly, please include:

• Your browser and version (e.g., Chrome 120)
• ChatShield version (visible in the popup footer)
• Which AI chat site you were using
• Steps to reproduce the issue
• Screenshots if possible

Send bug reports to support@chatshield.app with "Bug Report" in the subject line.

To remove ChatShield:

1. Right-click the ChatShield icon in your Chrome toolbar
2. Select "Remove from Chrome"
3. Confirm the removal

Alternatively, go to chrome://extensions, find ChatShield, and click "Remove".

All local data (settings, statistics) is automatically deleted when you uninstall the extension.